Weird Foods You're Surely Missing Out On

tropical fruit, mon

Most of us have probably crossed the following fruit a thousand times in grocery stores without ever trying them. Some of them look strange, some of them even look threatening, but they are all loaded with vitamins and nutrients. And the mere fact that they come from exotic, sunny places seems to spark something you won't get with apples or oranges.

Here are few exotic fruits everybody should include in their diets from time to time.

Mango No, I'm not referring to SNL 's own diva, but the oval fruit that results in stringy things getting stuck between your teeth. Mangos make great desserts and are an excellent source of vitamin A and C. For some strange reason, a single one is enough to fill you up. With that in mind, adding mangos to your diet can help you lose weight.

Papaya Native to the American tropics, papayas are a great source of vitamin A and C, and potassium. They also make an excellent fondue ingredient. Try sharing chocolate papaya fondue with your girl; it's worth the trip to the grocery store.

Lychee Looking at lychees, one might think these little, dry, brown, spiky balls are rotten or inedible at best, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Lychees have a juicy white interior loaded with vitamin C. Some believe that the fruit is so potent it can upset the stomach (something I have never experienced). They taste like grapes, but with an indescribable aroma. Peeling them is half the fun.

Mamey sapote These little vitamin bombs come from Central America and Mexico. They are brown on the outside, orange on the inside and look like large teardrops. They make great desserts and a perfect banana alternative for protein shakes. Each mamey sapote is packed with calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, vitamin A and C, thiamin, riboflavin, fiber, and niacin.

Guava Native to the American tropics, guava is green on the outside and red on the inside. What makes this particular fruit so appealing is its rare nutrient content. Guavas are an excellent source of vitamin B1 and B2, niacin and phosphorus, as well as vitamin C.

Now let's go to the far end of the spectrum and dabble with the repulsive.